Sunday, February 22, 2015

This week went very well, though there definitely were a
few stumbling blocks, but we were able to work past them to help the
people in our area. We were extremely excited when we went to church to
see the Calte family at church all together, as well as Ephraim actually
making it to church, same with Hermano Xolot, and the Noyola family,
and that wasn't the end of it. What made us overjoyed was the fact that
the Chavez family made it to 2 of the hours rather than just 1. We were
able to talk with them after the meetings and set plans for them going
to the court with a member to get their marriage license papers all
filled out so they will be able to get married on Friday, as well as put
together the baptismal program.

This week
we made progress with almost everyone we were able to meet with! We
visited Ephraim and found out why he wasn't doing the things he should
be doing, and helping him know the "why" behind them. We also helped him
know that by doing these things, he will be able to feel the spirit and
feel what he felt when he was baptized. That ended with me telling him
about one of my favorite Book of Mormon stories, the 2000 stripling
warriors, and leaving it with him so he would read it. We were able to
get him a ride to church and help him progress towards his return to
church. We were also able to help Carlos, who goes to church each week,
but isn't a member, resolve his problem with the Book of Mormon and
express his other concern about church. The daughters of Hermana Noyola,
who aren't members, progressed a lot this week, they finally went to
young women's and had a great lesson! We found out that they had real
intent, a sincere heart, and faith in Christ, which are all the things
necessary to receive an answer about the truth of these things. They
just didn't understand those first few steps from what we teach, so now
they'll progress quite soon.

We just had transfers and Elder Gamez and I are
actually staying together for a third transfer! This is the first time
that either of us have had a companion for three transfers, but the
twist is that we ended up getting a trio--our other companion is named
Elder Reed. He came out with Elder Heath and Elder Anderson trained him
in the same district as me.

This last week went
decently well. We had a really hard time contacting some people that we
have been teaching, and some of the less-actives in the branch are
active now, so our number of lessons took a huge hit. We were working a
lot towards finding new people and new areas that are more densely
populated with Hispanics. It really seems like we will be able to turn
around the area this week though because with Elder Reed, we have
knocked on a total of three or four doors while finding-- a lady opened
the first one and talked a little bit with us and then let us right in. We got to teach her and she is going to let us come back, so she is a
new investigator. Then we knocked a couple more without any answers, but
then the last one we knocked we ended up with a potential investigator. He seems really willing to open his heart to our message. I know that in this transfer we are capable
of baptizing, and I honestly feel like if we do our part and have the
faith, we could baptize multiple people, as long as we put that trust in
the Lord.

It sounds like you all had a good week, but I still
don't see any family pictures :P It is crazy how time flies. Elder Gamez and I were
talking about how these 2 transfers have blended into 1 and have flown
by! We get transfer calls this weekend, which is a little hard to
believe...but what is harder to believe is that it is February 9th and
it is 79 degrees outside, and it is only about 1:20pm, I hope this
doesn't mean that this summer will be extremely hot...

This
week went really well, we were able to make progress with most of the
people we have been working with. Over the last few weeks the attendance
in the branch has been going up! It has been in the mid to high 40s
instead of in the 30s! We have had some of the less-active families from
the branch, as well as investigators, there each week. The highlights of
the week were the marriage and baptisms of the Chavez family! We were able to meet their sons and daughters and
talk with them. They are all interested and willing
to learn more about what has helped their parents 'shine' so much, so we will be trying to meet with them to share our
message sometime this week.

I
am so grateful for the opportunity to serve here in the Trinity River
Branch, I have learned so much while serving here! I am glad to be of
service to the branch and to the people here. The Chavez family has
grown so much in their understanding and they can feel the Spirit
working with them. Ernesto and Francisca were both in tears during the
baptismal service and wedding and were so happy they couldn't describe
it. I can only describe it as them having found the Pearl of Great Price
and having given all of themselves to get it and accept it into their
lives. I am so glad to have been part of the Chavez's lives and
conversion, now I hope to be able to be part of the lives and
conversions of their children.
I do have pictures, but didn't bring the camera's cable, so maybe next week.

This week was great! We
met almost every one of our goals! It is a great feeling to be able to
humble ourselves and to push forward with faith. We would have met our
member present goal of 5 if the members didn't have to cancel on us. We
saw so much help from the Lord and the branch this week! Last week I
mentioned how the branch came up with their Branch Mission Goal of 15
baptisms and they are willing to do what it takes to achieve it. We
could tell this from all the help we received and from their excitement and
desire for the work. In a few weeks they will have 2 of their 15
baptisms achieved because the Chavez family set a date for their
marriage! They decided to get married on the 6th of February, and
President Escobar and his wife are getting them the paperwork and
helping them fill it out. The branch is so excited! They are already
making plans for a little reception that they are going to throw for the
Chavez family as well as making a cake for them! I am so happy, I don't
know how to express it, I just know this family will be great! This
Monday they mentioned to the Escobars', during the lesson, that they haven't
met the bishop yet, so President Escobar explained that a big
congregation is a ward and has a bishop, but a small one like ours is a
branch and has the branch president. They responded so well! They just
said, "Well, we're going to join and help it get bigger then!"

That
is the biggest progress that was made this week, but we had the
opportunity to teach Evangelina a couple of this this week. She had her daughters there
one of the times, so we included them in the lesson, but the second time
we taught it was just her and it went really well! We
taught her the restoration and about the Book of Mormon, and when we
shared a scripture with her, she continued reading further after reading
the one we shared, and she decided to read aloud one of the scriptures.
She said she really liked it, it was 2 Nephi 25:29 and it reads:

"And
now behold, I say unto you that the right way is to believe in Christ,
and deny him not; and Christ is the Holy One of Israel; wherefore ye
must bow down before him, and worship him with all your might, mind, and
strength, and your whole soul; and if ye do this ye shall in nowise be
cast out."

We really see her potential and she
really desires to come to church and continue forward in the gospel
because she feels that it is true. Sadly, she will be in Mexico for
the next 2 weeks, but she said she would talk with her father while she
is there and ask him if the missionaries can come and teach him as well,
and if he says yes, we will send his information as a referral to the
missionaries over there. I have no doubt that she will be baptized as
well when she gets home from Mexico.

Other than
our work with them, we worked with some of the less-active members, and
one family actually let their nonmember daughter come to church even
though they couldn't make it. We have been able to include the branch president's son, Aaron, to work with a less-active young man, Kenny. We have made some good progress. We have
plans to involve Aaron in the visits whenever it is possible.

I love this area so much!

I
hope you all have a great week and enjoy the 60 degree weather we are
having, oh wait, that is us in Texas, well, I hope you enjoy the weather
whatever it may be!

About Me

I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and have made my decision to serve my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, for 2 years before heading to college. I've been called to serve a Spanish speaking mission in Houston Texas, and am excited to be able to invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. Though I've always been a member of this church, it was my choice to serve a mission. I'm excited to bring the plan of happiness to others, and help them to heighten their joys here on earth, and in the eternities to come.